Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He's written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology's harassment of Paulette Cooper titled 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.' He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world from an undisclosed location in an underground bunker he shares with four cats and one of them wrinkly Shar Pei dogs. Despite his super-secret security protections, you can still reach him pretty easily by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.) [Header image courtesy John Rickard]
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Sunday Funnies: Scientology fundraising fliers try desperately to hide the truth

It’s that time of the week again, when we reveal the fliers and mailers and other items that our great tipsters have forwarded to us during the week.

Before we get into the glossy fundraising appeals that pour in each week, we have a stark reminder that as much as Scientology wants to give the impression []

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OREGON SENATOR RON WYDEN ASKS IRS FOR SCIENTOLOGY REVIEW

US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

The Underground Bunker has obtained an e-mail written by Ron Wyden, the senior US Senator from Oregon, who has formally asked the Internal Revenue Service to explain why the Church of Scientology enjoys tax exempt status, 21 years after that exemption was granted in a controversial decision.

Wyden’s inquiry comes []

Leah Remini ‘Fair Gamed’ by Scientology? Her sister gets a visit, and Tony Dovolani is tailed

Leah Remini and Tony Dovolani, during their run on DWTS

In her public appearances since she left Scientology last summer, actress Leah Remini has talked about losing many longtime friends who were ordered by the church to “disconnect” from her and her family.

She’s talked about how stunning it was to see how quickly people []

Is a Scientology front group among those fighting a European effort against ‘sects’?

Jonny Jacobsen

Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has a detailed report for us about one of the groups making noise about a European effort to crack down on “sects” that harm children. It’s a timely report, as a debate will be broadcast live about the issue today from Strasbourg — and Jonny’s provided []

Appeals court: Would deposing Scientology’s leader violate Texas law?

Nick Rogers called us from Austin with a report of what happened today in the Texas Third Court of Appeals as three justices wrestled with the question of whether Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige should be deposed in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit.

In December, Comal County judge Dib Waldrip ruled that Monique could depose Miscavige []

Mike Bennitt shares with us a creepy e-mail he received after filming Scientology events

Mike Bennitt

Last night, we showed you surprising tax documents in which the Church of Scientology was forced to estimate the “book value” of some of its many entities. Three of those entities alone (CSI, CST, and FSO) came to nearly $1.5 billion.

Why does Scientology, a tiny organization with maybe 30,000 worldwide members at []

Video Vault: Hear L. Ron Hubbard unite Dianetics and Scientology in connubial bliss!

Our video source came through with another gem this week. It’s the “quote video” that Scientology created to help sell the Unification Congress, that fateful Phoenix event in December 1954 when L. Ron Hubbard explained how he was going to unify Dianetics (which he had invented in 1950) with Scientology, which he had developed in []

Ryan Hamilton files two new suits against Scientology’s drug rehab network — in California

Ryan Hamilton

 Ryan Hamilton is branching out.

We’ve reported previously about the two federal fraud lawsuits the Las Vegas attorney has filed against Scientology’s drug rehab facility in Nevada. Now he’s filed two more — against a Scientology facility in San Diego County, California.

Angelo Amato of Illinois is suing the Narconon Fresh Start of Warner []

John Travolta’s fun night at the Oscars

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AOLA’s grand re-opening — a look at the last time Scientology cut the ribbon at Big Blue!

On Sunday, Scientology will have a ceremony to celebrate the re-opening of the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles (AOLA), where wealthy church members go to receive high-level “Operating Thetan” courses and auditing on their way up L. Ron Hubbard’s “Bridge to Total Freedom.” But this isn’t the first time the church has had a grand []